Being single is like playing the lottery. There’s always the chance that with one piece of paper you could win it all.
From the New York Times bestselling author of In Five Years and One Italian Summer comes the romance that will define a generation.
Daphne Bell believes the universe has a plan for her. Every time she meets a new man , she receives a slip of paper with his name and a number on it—the exact amount of time they will be together. The papers told her she’d spend three days with Martin in Paris; five weeks with Noah in San Francisco; and three months with Hugo, her ex-boyfriend turned best friend. Daphne has been receiving the numbered papers for over twenty years, always wondering when there might be one without an expiration. Finally, the night of a blind date at her favorite Los Angeles restaurant, there’s only a Jake.
But as Jake and Daphne’s story unfolds, Daphne finds herself doubting the paper’s prediction, and wrestling with what it means to be both committed and truthful. Because Daphne knows things Jake doesn’t, information that—if he found out—would break his heart.
Told with her signature warmth and insight into matters of the heart, Rebecca Serle has finally set her sights on romantic love. The result is a gripping, emotional, passionate, and (yes) heartbreaking novel about what it means to be single, what it means to find love, and ultimately how we define each of them for ourselves. Expiration Dates is the one fans have been waiting for.
First Line:
The paper is blank save for the name: Jake.
Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle
Important details about Expiration Dates
Pace: Medium
POV:1st person (Daphne)
Trigger Warnings:Expiration Dates contain themes that include chronic illness, medical content, medical trauma, death, grief, cancer, infertility, and infidelity.
Language: There is mild swearing in Expiration Dates. There is also language used that might offend some people.
Sexual Content: There is mild sexual content in Expiration Dates.
Setting:Expiration Dates is mainly set in Los Angeles, California. There are also chapters set in Paris, France, and SanFransisco.
My Review
When I read the blurb for Expiration Dates, I knew that I wanted to read it. It hit all my likes (romance, magic), and there was enough in the blurb to make me even more interested. I am glad I accepted the invite because this book was fantastic.
The main storyline of Expiration Dates centers around Daphne. Since she was in middle school, Daphne had been receiving papers with the name of the person she just started dating and how long the relationship would last. This information has caused her not to be as invested in her relationships as she should have been. I loved the concept of this storyline and how the author executed it. Of course, a couple of twists in the storyline further shed light on Daphne’s attitude. But, the admission at the end of the book surprised me.
I loved the romance angle of Expiration Dates. Daphne’s dating life was interesting (and honestly, at times, heartbreaking). The author did show how knowing how long a relationship would last affected Daphne. By the time she met Jack, Daphne was no longer emotionally connected to any of her boyfriends. The only one she kept in contact with was Hugh (who was her best friend). Of course, a significant twist also figured into her not wanting to get attached. Once that was revealed, her reluctance made more sense.
The end of Expiration Dates was interesting. Not only did Daphne make a pretty big decision, but she also found something that blew her mind. It also blew my mind because of how much of a game-changer it was for Daphne. I loved the very end. It showed a very different Daphne than the one we got to know throughout the book.
Many thanks to Atria Books, NetGalley, and Rebecca Serle for allowing me to read and review this ARC of ExpirationDates. All opinions stated in this review are mine.
If you enjoy reading books similar to Expiration Dates, then you will enjoy these books:
Across two different time periods, two women confront fear, loneliness, mortality, and a haunting yearning that will not let them rest. A breakout, genre-blurring novel from one of the most exciting new voices of Latin America’s feminist Gothic.
It is the twilight of Europe’s bloody bacchanals, of murder and feasting without end. In the nineteenth century, a vampire arrives from Europe to the coast of Buenos Aires and, for the second time in her life, watches as villages transform into a cosmopolitan city, one that will soon be ravaged by yellow fever. She must adapt, intermingle with humans, and be discreet.
In present-day Buenos Aires, a woman finds herself at an impasse as she grapples with her mother’s terminal illness and her own relationship with motherhood. When she first encounters the vampire in a cemetery, something ignites within the two women—and they cross a threshold from which there’s no turning back.
With echoes of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and written in the vein of feminist Gothic writers like Shirley Jackson, Daphne du Maurier, and Carmen Maria Machado, Thirst plays with the boundaries of genre while exploring the limits of female agency, the consuming power of desire, and the fragile vitality of even the most immortal of creatures.
First Line:
The day is white; its glare burns if you look straight at the sky.
Thirst by Marina Yuszczuk
Important details about Thirst
Pace: Medium
POV:1st person (Maria and Alma)
Trigger Warnings:Thirst contains themes that include the death of a parent, blood, murder, terminal illness, death, suicide, violence, suicidal thoughts, grief, body horror, chronic illness, gore, physical abuse, sexual violence, medical content, suicide attempt, pandemic, confinement, sexual assault, medical trauma, child death, racism, and classism.
Language: There is moderate swearing in Thirst. There is also language used that might offend some people.
Sexual Content: There is graphic sexual content in Thirst.
Setting:Thirst is set in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Maria’s (the vampire) backstory is set throughout Europe, but she ends up in Buenos Aires reasonably early in the book.
My Review
Thirst is a dark book. It starts dark (with Maria’s mother giving her to her Maker) and ends dark. Usually, this would put me (I do like a bit of light showing up in my horror/gothic books). But in this case, it worked. I finished this book more disturbed than when I started it.
Thirst’s storyline is separated into two parts. The first storyline follows Maria. The storyline explains how Maria became a vampire, her exploits across Europe with her sisters, her fleeing Argentina, her killings in Buenos Aires during several periods, her friendship with an immigrant, and her deal with that immigrant. I did enjoy this storyline. I found it well-written, and it scared me at times. It also showed that Maria did have a little bit of humanity left in her. But it also showcased what a monster she was.
The second storyline follows Alma. This storyline focuses on Alma, her mother’s illness, and how it was affecting her and being a mother herself. I did sympathize with Alma. She had a lot going on in her world and was losing control. This isn’t a gradual descent into depression; the author plunged us in with her. Her feelings of motherhood were interesting (I related to the dentist scene because I had been in that exact situation with one of my kids).
The storylines merge when Alma accidentally releases Maria. She doesn’t know what she did except that something happened in the vault, and Alma couldn’t account for a few hours. It isn’t until Maria makes herself known that Alma puts two and two together.
The horror angle of the book was terrific. Again, to reiterate, this is a very dark gothic book. The author kept the vampire myth very simple, and in that simplicity, she was able to write a truly terrifying story. Maria didn’t glitter, she couldn’t daywalk, and she wasn’t exactly beautiful (Alma’s first good look at her likened her skin to corpselike). But the horror also extended to Alma’s mother’s terminal illness. During Alma’s storyline, her mother went from being bedridden and at home to being hospitalized with tubes coming out of her. It was terrifying for Alma to see and witness.
The end of Thirst was interesting. I understood Alma’s decision and what she asked of Maria. And I also understood why Maria said yes. It wasn’t a happy ending. I mean, for Alma and Maria, it was. But for everyone else in Alma’s life, what she asked would have long-reaching repercussions. And that made me so sad for all of those people.
Many thanks to Penguin Group Dutton, Dutton, NetGalley, and MarinaYuszczuk for allowing me to read and review this ARC of Thirst. All opinions stated in this review are mine.
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A shield maiden blessed by the gods battles to unite a nation under a power-hungry king—while also fighting her growing desire for his fiery son—in this Norse-inspired fantasy romance from the bestselling author of The Bridge Kingdom series.
Bound in an unwanted marriage, Freya spends her days gutting fish, but dreams of becoming a warrior. And of putting an axe in her boorish husband’s back.
Freya’s dreams abruptly become reality when her husband betrays her to the region’s jarl, landing her in a fight to the death against his son, Bjorn. To survive, Freya is forced to reveal her deepest secret: She possesses a drop of a goddess’s blood, which makes her a shield maiden with magic capable of repelling any attack. It was foretold such a magic would unite the fractured nation of Skaland beneath the one who controls the shield maiden’s fate.
Believing he’s destined to rule Skaland as king, the fanatical jarl binds Freya with a blood oath and orders Bjorn to protect her from their enemies. Desperate to prove her strength, Freya must train to fight and learn to control her magic, all while facing perilous tests set by the gods. The greatest test of all, however, may be resisting her forbidden attraction to Bjorn. If Freya succumbs to her lust for the charming and fierce warrior, she risks not only her own destiny but the fate of all the people she swore to protect.
First Line:
My mother taught me many skills to ensure I’d make a good wife to my husband.
A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle J. Jensen
Important things you need to know about Ill-Fated Fortune:
Pace: Fast
POV:1st person (Freya)
Trigger Warnings:A Fate Inked in Blood contains themes that include violence, war, death, blood, gore, death of a parent, fire & fire injury, murder, sexism, injury & injury detail, animal death, grief, bullying, domestic abuse, emotional abuse, infidelity, misogyny, physical abuse, vomit, kidnapping, gaslighting, classism, suicide attempt, bigamy, and toxic relationships.
Series:A Fate Inked in Blood is the first book in the Sage of the Unfated series.
Language: There is moderate swearing in A Fate Inked in Blood. There is also language used that might offend some people.
Sexual Content: There is moderate sexual content in A Fate Inked in Blood. But, the lead-up to Bjorn and Freya having sex is explicit.
Setting:A Fate Inked in Blood is set in Skaland.
Plot Synopsis (as spoiler-free as I can get):
In an unwanted and abusive marriage, Freya lives to keep her husband, a child of the gods, happy. Freya is also hiding a huge secret, one so big that it could rip apart everything that she knows. And it happens; her secret is discovered the day her husband decides to have her killed by the king so he can marry another woman. What is Freya’s secret? She is also a child of the gods. She is The Shieldmaiden of a prophecy where she is foretold to unite a fractured Skaland.
Brought to the capital of Skaland by a fanatical Snorri (the king), Freya is forced to marry him and then is bound by a blood oath to keep his secrets. Snorri then orders his son, Bjorn, to train and protect Freya. Freya is desperate. She needs to learn to fight and control her magic to appease Snorri and the gods. Meanwhile, she survives attempts on her life and trials given by the gods. Freya is also battling an attraction to Bjorn, which is forbidden since he is technically her stepson. Can Freya live up to what the prophecy said and unite Skaland? Or do the gods have other plans for her?
My Review
I was browsing NetGalley (specifically the Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine page) when I noticed A FateInked in Blood and saw it was wish only. I was going to pass (the cover didn’t thrill me then), but when I read the blurb, I knew I needed to read it. This book was based on Norse mythology, and from the blurb, it looked good. So, I took the gamble and wished for it. I was thrilled when I got the email telling me it was granted. Now that I have read the book, I can tell you that it is fantastic. It was a rare five stars for me!!
A Fate Inked in Blood’s main storyline centers around Freya, her magic, and Bjorn. The author took Norse gods and goddesses and interwove them into a violent and bloody storyline that reflected how the way of life was back when people still worshipped the gods. But she put her own spin on things, which made this book so good.
I loved Freya. Her life wasn’t great the entire book. But she kept her wits about her and used her circumstances to better herself. I also liked how she handled being told that she would unite Skaland. Her reaction was something that I could see an ordinary person doing.
Freya’s magic was a huge aspect of the book, but at the same time, so little was known about it. Her training wasn’t excellent (she had to be trained fast), and most of what she knew was instinctive. A massive twist in her origin story took me by surprise. I hope that in book 2, she gets the training to understand and use her magic.
Oh, Bjorn, let me tell you about Bjorn. He was utterly devoted to Freya when his father made him her protector. But, even before that, he looked out for her. His backstory was tragic. It was a little drawn out, and I figured out what was happening before the book’s end. But, it was that drawn-out story, along with his utter devotion to Freya, that made him so amazing to read.
I want to warn you that A Fate Inked in Blood has a lot of gore and violence. But, considering when this book took place, I thought it was weird if there wasn’t any (if that makes sense).
Several secondary storylines involve Snorri and his war. From the threats to kill her family to marrying her to going into battle, it helped flesh out Freya’s storyline and made me better understand what she was going through.
The fantasy angle of A Fate Inked in Blood was terrific. The author did her research when it came to Norse gods and customs of that era. I couldn’t put the book down when Bjorn and Freya battled through the caves or when the gods came to witness her battle.
While I saw how Bjorn’s storyline would end, I did not expect the book to end the way it did. I was utterly floored by what was revealed about Freya and Bjorn. I didn’t see it coming, and I had to reread those chapters several times to understand everything. Events happened so fast that I did get turned around. It also made me very excited to read book2. Because I can’t wait to see what a pissed-off Freya is capable of!!
Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Del Rey, NetGalley, and Danielle L. Jensen for allowing me to read and review this ARC of A Fate Inked in Blood. All opinions stated in this review are mine.
If you enjoy reading books similar to A Fate Inked in Blood, then you will enjoy these books:
The first in the heart-warming and deliciously mysterious Magical Fortune Cookie series from Lefty Award-nominee Jennifer J. Chow.
Felicity Jin grew up literally hanging onto Mom’s apron strings in their magical bakery in the quaint town of Pixie, California. Her mother’s enchanted baked goods, including puffy pineapple buns and creamy egg tarts, bring instant joy to all who consume them. Felicity has always been hesitant in the kitchen herself after many failed attempts, but a takeout meal gone wrong inspires her to craft some handmade fortune cookies.
They become so popular that Felicity runs out of generic fortunes and starts making her own personalized predictions. When one customer’s ill-fated fortune results in his murder, Felicity’s suspiciously specific fortune has the police focusing on her as the main culprit. Now Felicity must find a way to turn her luck around and get cleared from suspicion.
First Line
It only took twenty-eight years and one bad take-out meal to unlock my superpower.
Ill-Fated Fortune by Jennifer J. Chow
Important things you need to know about Ill-Fated Fortune:
Pace: Medium
POV:1st person (Felicity)
Trigger Warnings:Ill-Fated Fortune contains themes that include racism, anxiety & anxiety attacks, dead bodies, asthma, murder & attempted murder, and physical assault.
Language: There is mild swearing in Ill-Fated Fortune. There is also language used that might offend some people.
Sexual Content: There is no sexual content in Ill-Fated Fortune.
Setting:Ill-Fated Fortune is set in Pixie, California. There are also some scenes in Fresno.
Plot Synopsis (as spoiler-free as I can get):
Growing up in a magical bakery and witnessing her mother use her magical power to bring happiness to their customers, Felicity waits for her to manifest. After many failed attempts, Felicity has given up. That changes the day she gets an awful fortune cookie from a take-out Chinese cookie. After making a batch of homemade fortune cookies, Felicity’s magic manifests. She makes delicious fortune cookies and writes handmade fortunes that come true.
But her happiness is short-lived. A rival enters her shop, gets a cookie and a fortune, makes a scene, and leaves. The following day, Felicity finds his body in the dumpster behind the bakery, holding her handwritten fortune. Now, Felicity is the number one suspect in his murder. Desperate to clear her name, she starts sleuthing. Will Felicity find out who killed that customer and why?
My Review
I enjoy a good cozy mystery. I also enjoy cozy mysteries that incorporate magic (or paranormal) themes into the storyline. But, lately, I have found those types of cozy mysteries lacking. Either they were too over the top, or I found them boring. So, I did go into reading Ill-Fated Fortune with the mindset that it could be either of those types. And I was pleasantly surprised when I started reading this book and realized it was good.
The main storyline centers around Felicity, her magic (or lack of it), the murder, and her investigation. It was a well-written, humorous storyline that kept me guessing who the killer was and the motivation behind it.
I did like Felicity and felt a little bad for her throughout the book. Her bad luck didn’t start until after the murder, and it just snowballed. I did think that the detective had tunnel vision. But I also felt that Felicity made herself a target by not doing what the police asked. It was a “damned if she did, damned if she didn’t” type of situation.
The mystery angle was interesting. I say interesting because there were a bunch of people who wanted that guy dead. So, I thought everything was good until I realized how much I had left in the book. The author didn’t even begin to scratch the surface of what happened. I was shocked when the true motives and the real killer were revealed. Someone wasn’t even on my radar until the very last minute. And even then, I was a little iffy if it was that person.
The end of Ill-Fated Fortune was a nail-biter. I am concerned about how Felicity will cope in the upcoming books (if you read the book, you understand). Also, I can’t wait to read the next book (for the above reasons).
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books, NetGalley, and Jennifer J. Chow for allowing me to read and review this ARC of Ill-Fated Fortune. All opinions stated in this review are mine.
If you enjoy reading books similar to Ill-Fated Fortune, then you will enjoy these books:
In April Asher’s new Supernatural Singles novel, a witch takes a stroll on the wild-ish side, sparking an alert that saddles her with her very own Guardian Angel…who happens to be her secret crush―and new roommate.
Olive Maxwell much prefers teaching about the supernatural world to taking part in it and leaves the magical shenanigans to her two sisters―the Prima-Apparent and Bounty Hunter-In-Training. But after assigning her college students a project designed to nudge them outside their comfort zones, Olive realizes that she’s never once stepped a toe over her own…and it’s about time that changed. Her first trip into the unknown? Moving in with her long-time crush―and friend…tattooed, motorcycle-riding, and pleasantly pierced, Baxter Donovan.
Bax Donovan, Guardian Angel not-so-extraordinaire, has acquired so many black marks on his record it looked like a scantron sheet. He’s given one last chance to keep his Guardian wings intact, a high-profile Assignment he knows all too well. Olive is usually as low-risk as it got. Hell, she wrote the safety manual. But something landed her on the Guardian Affairs radar and his guess was it had something to do with the heart-pounding stunts she’s determined to check off her Dare I Docket list.
Keeping Olive out of trouble is about to be his toughest assignment yet, and not because he’s forced to shake the dust off his feathers and embrace his inner aerialist. He’s at real risk of shattering the only Guardian Angel Code of Conduct Rule he’s yet to Don’t fall in love with your Assignment. And he isn’t so sure that’s a bad thing.
If love didn’t play by the rules, why should they?
First Line:
Committing a felony had never looked so appealing to Olive Maxwell.
Not Your Crush’s Cauldron by April Asher
Important things you need to know about Not Your Crush’s Cauldron:
Pace: Medium
POV:3rd person (Olive and Bax).
Trigger Warnings: There are no trigger warnings in Not Your Crush’s Cauldron.
Language: There is moderate swearing in Not Your Crush’s Cauldron. There is also language used that might offend some people.
Setting:Not Your Crush’s Cauldron is set in New York City.
Plot Synopsis (as spoiler-free as I can get):
Olive is the youngest of the Maxwell triplets. After watching her sisters find true love and their true purpose in their lives (one is the Prima-Apparent and the other is a Bounty Hunter in Training), she is content to teach magic at her local college. But, when she assigns her students an assignment intended to make them go outside their comfort zone, she decides to do it with them. The first thing on her list is moving in with Bax, her longtime crush and friend.
Bax is a guardian angel who isn’t very good at his job. His record has more black marks than any other angels in the department. To keep his career, Bax is given a low-risk assignment. To his shock, his assignment is Olive. What Bax wasn’t counting on was Olive trying things outside her comfort zone. He soon begins accompanying her on different outings and fighting his growing attraction to her. One of the three rules of his department is not to get involved with their charge.
As Olive and Bax spend more time together, their attraction grows. But with Olive being Bax’s charge, he cannot make a move on her. Will Olive push Bax out of his comfort zone? Will Bax be able to control his feelings for Olive until his assignment is over? Or will he risk losing his wings for her?
Characters:
Olive Maxwell and Bax Donovan are the main characters in Not Your Crush’s Cauldron. Having been introduced to Olive in the previous book (I haven’t read the entire series, just book 2), I did think that she was pretty mellow and less low-key than her sisters. I felt there was nothing wrong with playing it safe, having outfits for certain days of the week, or having schedules for everything. That’s how she liked her life. I got grumpy during the college party scene where she overheard unkind remarks about her. But, it did get her thinking, and she decided to join the assignment with her students. Bax joining her was an enjoyable addition to the list.
Bax Donovan was an interesting character for me to read. At first, I thought I had him pegged as a slightly bad GuardianAngel who only went through the motions at his job. And I was partially right about that. Bax didn’t exactly put himself out there with his charges (the gargoyle wing scene did make me laugh and wince). But the more I read about him, the more I understood him. He liked Olive and maybe loved her early on in the book. But he had to put aside those feelings when assigned her (because of the rules). On top of that, he had to deal with a father who was borderline mentally and emotionally abusive to him. It was a lot, and he tended to deal with that by shutting down and internalizing it.
The characters from the other books do make an appearance in this one. I loved that they didn’t overtake Bax and Olive’s story. Instead, they added depth to the main storyline. There was one character (Harper) who I would love to see a book about. There were sparks between her and a certain werewolf, and I need to see if that will go anywhere (I hope!!)
My review:
I was excited when I got the widget for Not Your Crush’s Cauldron. I had enjoyed reading the previous book (Not Your Exes Hexes) and planned to read this one if/when it went on KU. So, to say I was excited is an understatement. I couldn’t wait to read this book.
The main storyline of Not Your Crush’s Cauldron centers around Olive and Bax, their romance, Bax’s assignment, Olive’s assignment, and Olive’s attempt to push her limits. It was a well-written, funny, and very hot storyline. I did get sad in spots because of different things that were brought up as the book went on. Examples are:
Bax’s father (who I couldn’t stand).
Olive’s fear of living outside her comfort zone.
The guardian angel conundrum.
But don’t let that stop you from reading this book!! The author interwove those themes throughout the book with tact.
The romance angle of the book was scorching hot. Now, the author did wait to have Olive and Bax have sex until well past the middle of the book. But, by then, the sexual tension had built up, and when they did have sex, it was explosive. I was surprised by Bax’s piercings (an angel with penile and nipple piercings?!?). I should have been because it was talked about up to them having sex. And, of course, the makeup sex was perfect (because each romance novel has hot makeup sex).
I loved the fantasy angle, too. The author did a great job creating a universe where all supernatural beings were out and accepted. The magic was used casually and wasn’t over the top. Even Bax’s guardian angel status (wings included) was treated normally. I loved it!!!
Several secondary storylines involved Olive’s sisters that were interwoven into her storyline. Instead of taking over (and I was afraid they would), the author kept them in the background. Each was wrapped up by the end of the book.
I do want to touch on Bax’s storyline with his father. Michael, his father, was a vast douchecanoe. I couldn’t believe what he said to Olive (at the college party or the Guardian Angels headquarters). He was such an asshat that he went out of his way to try and get Bax fired. Why? Because he couldn’t deal with his son being a guardian angel instead of a warrior. I did like how both Bax and Olive dealt with him. But I do wish that there was a resolution to that storyline. It was the only one that was left up in the air.
The end of Not Your Crush’s Cauldron was perfect. I loved how the author wrapped up Bax and Olive’s love story. I liked that Olive came to her senses and understood why Bax couldn’t tell her about his assignment. And I appreciated that Bax gave her space to do so. I hope there will be a book 4 (as mentioned at the top of this review). I would love to see Harper get her HEA.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Griffin, NetGalley, and April Asher for allowing me to read and review this ARC of Not Your Crush’s Cauldron. All opinions stated in this review are mine.
If you enjoy reading books similar to Not Your Crush’s Cauldron, then you will enjoy these books:
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A magically gifted con artist must gather her estranged mother’s old crew for a once-in-a-lifetime heist, from the New York Times bestselling author of Stranger Suspicious Minds.
Dani Poissant is the daughter and former accomplice of the world’s most famous art thief, as well as being an expert forger in her own right. The secret to their success? A little thing called magic, kept rigorously secret from the non-magical world. Dani’s mother possesses the power of persuasion, able to bend people to her will, whereas Dani has the ability to make any forgery she undertakes feel like the genuine article.
At seventeen, concerned about the corrupting influence of her mother’s shadowy partner, Archer, Dani impulsively sold her mother out to the FBI—an act she has always regretted. Ten years later, Archer seeks her out, asking her to steal a particular painting for him, since her mother’s still in jail. In return, he will reconcile her with her mother and reunite her with her mother’s old gang—including her former best friend, Mia, and Elliott, the love of her life.
The problem is, it’s a nearly impossible job—even with the magical talents of the people she once considered family backing her up. The painting is in the never-before-viewed private collection of deceased billionaire William Hackworth—otherwise known as the Fortress of Art. It’s a job that needs a year to plan, and Dani has just over one week. Worse, she’s not exactly gotten a warm welcome from her former colleagues—especially not from Elliott, who has grown from a weedy teen to a smoking-hot adult. And then there is the biggest puzzle of why Archer wants her to steal a portrait of himself, which clearly dates from the 1890s, instead of the much more valuable works by Vermeer or Rothko. Who is her mother’s partner, really, and what does he want?
The more Dani learns, the more she understands she may be in way over her head—and that there is far more at stake in this job than she ever realized.
First Line
Dani was settled at a sticky back table in the empty dive bar, waiting, when the mark arrived.
The Frame-Up by Gwenda Bond
Important things you need to know about The Frame-Up:
Pace: Fast. The storyline of the book takes place over ten days.
POV:3rd person (from Dani’s POV).
Trigger Warnings: There are scenes involving emotional abuse (on and off page), blood (mostly off page), fire (onpage), gaslighting (on page), abandonment (off page and was done to and by Dani), injury & injury detail (on page), toxic relationship (on and off page), grief (on page), sexual assault (off-page but described in general terms via a journal Dani found written by her great-great-grandmother), suicide (off-page but described in general terms in the same journal mentioned previously), and murder (off-page). If any of these triggers you, I suggest not reading the book.
Language: There is moderate swearing in The Frame-Up. There is also language used that might offend some people.
Setting:The Frame-Up is set in Lexington, Kentucky. A brief chapter at the beginning shows Dani doing business in St.Louis, Missouri.
Plot Synopsis (as spoiler-free as I can get):
Growing up, Dani was molded into an expert forger by her art thief mother. But, at the age of seventeen and desperate to get her mother out of that lifestyle and away from her shadowy business partner, Archer, Dani contacted the FBI and arranged for her mother to be arrested. Dani didn’t expect backlash from the people who helped raise her.
That all changed when Archer hunted her down and asked her to forge a painting and steal the original for him. He promised that she would be able to make things right with her mother and with her mother’s gang if she did it. It wouldn’t be easy, though. The painting he wants stolen is in a private collection about to be sold at auction. That means Dani and her accomplices would need to infiltrate the auction. Dani is counting on her ace up her sleeve, her magical talent, and the magical talents of most of the gang to get the painting and get out.
But, with the clock ticking and rival gangs casing the joint, Dani needs to work fast. There is something bothering her about Archer and his reason for wanting the painting. Also, her mother has miraculously decided to talk to her again and shows great interest in the job. Can Dani figure everything out before the heist?
Characters:
The main characters in The Frame-Up are Dani and her border collie, Sunflower. She was a sympathetic character with a heartbreaking backstory. The only thing I was even a little “meh” about was her wanting to have a relationship with Maria (her mother). But I will get into that during the actual review.
The secondary characters (Maria, Rabbit, Mia, Elliot, Brad, and Archer) did add some oomph to the storyline. But I didn’t feel the connection that I did with Dani. I was a little grumpy with Rabbit because of how she treated Dani, but having read the book, I understand why she acted that way. Just remember that things aren’t what they seem with Maria’s gang.
My review:
When I started reading The Frame-Up, I expected it to be a rom-com centered around an art heist. I did think that the premise was strange, but I have read books that featured a jewel thief, so I went with it. Well, the blurb wasn’t exactly right about the book. The Frame-Up is more of a fantasy chick-lit crime book with a touch of romance. And again, I didn’t mind it. But some people do, so I want to give everyone a heads-up.
The main storyline of The Frame-Up centers around Dani, Archer, Maria (her mother), a plan to steal a painting, and Dani reconnecting with the only family she knew. The storyline was well written, but it did lag in spots (mainly at the end when everything went to hell). I found some situations unbelievable, but since this was a fantasy, I went with it. In the end, I did enjoy the book.
I liked how the author took an art heist and made it magical. Except for Mia, everyone had magic powers. Dani could accurately reproduce any painting, her mother had the gift of persuasion, and Rabbit was a whiz on technology. I also liked how the author kept the highest, generally, in shades of gray. Yes, stealing and replacing a painting was awful, but Dani did it for a reason. She wanted to reconnect with Maria. Yes, lying and pretending to be security consultants was terrible, but again, Dani was doing it to get to the painting, and she helped stop heists before they happened.
I was disappointed that the author didn’t explain Dani’s ability. There was one scene where she was reproducing Archer’s painting, and that was it. Otherwise, it was all about the finger tingles and memory of Monet when she was a child.
I liked that the author kept Dani and Elliott’s romance in the background. With everything going on, if the romance were more up in your face, it would have ruined the book. I also liked being kept guessing if Dani would go with Elliott or with Brad for most of the book. That pseudotriangle did keep me on my feet.
Other than the heist, the main focus of this book was the relationship between Dani and her mother. Dani did what she thought was right and turned Maria in. All she wanted was for her mother to be out of Archer’s control and back to being a somewhat normal parent. But, as the book went on and the more Dani interacted with Maria, the more I saw that Maria wasn’t nice.
Archer is the big elephant in the room. He was very mysterious in his dealings with Maria and with Dani. It was in the scene where Dani saw the painting where I thought something was up. And there was. The journal scenes explained so much and explained why he wanted the painting. It also changed Dani’s mind about helping Archer. He got what he deserved in the end.
The end of the book is chaos. There was so much going on and so much revealed that my head spun from processing it all. I was left with a headache and feeling that the book hadn’t ended (if that makes sense).
Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Del Rey, NetGalley, and Gwenda Bond for allowing me to read and review this ARC of The Frame-Up. All opinions stated in this review are mine.
If you enjoy reading books similar to The Frame-Up, then you will enjoy these books:
Other books by Gwenda Bond
Suggested Playlist (feel free to add songs or remove songs)
During the Great War, a combat nurse searches for her brother, believed dead in the trenches despite eerie signs that suggest otherwise, in this hauntingly beautiful historical novel with a speculative twist from the New York Times bestselling author of The Bear and the Nightingale
January 1918. Laura Iven was a revered field nurse until she was wounded and discharged from the medical corps, leaving behind a brother still fighting in Flanders. Now home in Halifax, Canada, she receives word of Freddie’s death in combat, along with his personal effects—but something doesn’t make sense. Determined to uncover the truth, Laura returns to Belgium as a volunteer at a private hospital. Soon after arriving, she hears whispers about haunted trenches, and a strange hotelier whose wine gives soldiers the gift of oblivion. Could Freddie have escaped the battlefield, only to fall prey to something—or someone—else?
November 1917. Freddie Iven awakens after an explosion to find himself trapped in an overturned pillbox with a wounded enemy soldier, a German by the name of Hans Winter. Against all odds, the two men form an alliance and succeed in clawing their way out. Unable to bear the thought of returning to the killing fields, especially on opposite sides, they take refuge with a mysterious man who seems to have the power to make the hellscape of the trenches disappear.
As shells rain down on Flanders, and ghosts move among those yet living, Laura’s and Freddie’s deepest traumas are reawakened. Now they must decide whether their world is worth salvaging—or better left behind entirely.
First Line:
Freddie’s clothes ca me to Veith Street instead of Blackthorn House, and the telegram that ought to have preceded them didn’t reach Laura at all.
The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden
Important things you need to know about the book:
Pace: Slow to medium. Once the author explained the backstories, the pacing slowed way down, almost to a snail’s pace. That caused the storyline to drag in some spots. The pace did pick up to medium at the end of the book.
POV:3rd person (told by Laura, Freddie, and occasionally Hans Winter).
Trigger Warnings: There are scenes involving war themes & military violence (on-page), death (on and off page), blood (on page), death of parents (off page but how Laura found her mother was on-page), violence (on page), medical content (on page), injury & injury detail (on and off page), gore (on page), grief (on page), medical trauma (on page), body horror (on page), panic attacks (on page), murder (on page), gaslighting (on page), gun violence (on page), confinement (on page), suicidal thoughts (on page), xenophobia (on and off page), fire and fire injury (on page), post traumatic stress disorder (on page), alcohol consumption (on page), dead bodies & body parts (on and off page), needles (on page), physical injuries (on and off page), scars (on page), disappearance of a loved one (on page), explosions (on page), knife violence (on page), chemical gassing & warfare (on and off page), and riot (on page). If any of these triggers you, I suggest not reading the book.
Language: There is little to no swearing used in The Warm Hands of Ghosts. There is language used that could be offensive to some people.
Setting:The Warm Hands of Ghosts is primarily set in WWI-era Belgium. There are several chapters set in Halifax, Nova Scotia. There are also stops in England and France.
Plot Synopsis (as spoiler-free as I can get):
Laura, a renowned WWI nurse, had been sent home when she sustained an injury to her leg. While she is recuperating, a horrific explosion of a ship kills and injures hundreds of people. Her mother was killed, and her father was presumed dead (he was at ground zero for the attack). Several days after the explosion, Laura receives a package containing her brother Wilfred’s (a.k .a. Freddie’s) personal effects. However, several things do not make sense or are missing. So Laura and her friend Pim travel to Belgium to help in a hospital in The Forbidden Zone. But Laura is also there to look into her brother’s death/disappearance. What she uncovers defies any sense of reason, and when she finds out that Freddie is caught up in that web, Laura will move heaven and earth to save him.
Characters:
The two main characters in The Warm Hands of Ghosts are the Iven siblings, Laura and Freddie. I liked that the author showcased their strong relationship on top of creating well-rounded, well-written characters. These characters were well fleshed out, and I was able to form a connection with both of them. I connected with Laura more than Freddie, but that was because she was in the book more.
Numerous other secondary characters added depth to the main storylines. But the ones that stood out the most to me were Pim, Winters, and Faland. Pim, because she was devastated and haunted by the death of her only son in this war. She was clinging to a fragile hope that he was still alive. Winters, because he was the strongest out of all the characters. His bond with Freddie transcended anything, and I liked that he saw Faland for who he was and was ready to move mountains to get Freddie back. And lastly, Faland. I will leave a minor spoiler here (because otherwise, my references wouldn’t make sense), but Faland was an aspect of the devil. He dealt with stealing souls and secrets. His entire character was contrasts.
My review:
I had eagerly waited for Katherine Arden to release her newest adult novel since The Winter of the Witch was published. I had read her middle-grade series, Small Spaces, and while it was good, it wasn’t what I wanted to read from her. So, when I saw that Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine/Del Rey had The Warm Hands of Ghosts as a wish on NetGalley, I immediately clicked that button. And I was thrilled when I saw that they had granted my wish. This book is one of my top choices for February.
The Warm Hands of Ghosts has dual storylines. Freddie’s storyline starts in November1917 when he and Winters are trapped in a pillbox. Laura’s storyline begins in January 1918, right after the Halifax Explosion. Both storylines were well-written and well-fleshed out. The storyline did drag once Laura arrived in Belgium and went to The ForbiddenZone. But it picked back up when Winters connected with Laura. Once the storylines merged, the book flowed better but kept up that same medium-slow pace until the end.
I do have a trigger warning list above, but I want to reiterate that this book takes place on the battlefield. There are explosions, people dying, body parts, and people suffering from mental trauma portrayed in the book. This book also takes place during WWI, when chemical warfare was widely used and the effects from the chemicals were awful. It makes for a sad and often frightening background. I didn’t mind it and thought it only accentuated Freddie’s time with Faland and Laura’s quest to find him. But some people might be triggered. So, go into reading this book with care.
The fantasy angle of The Warm Hands of Ghosts was exciting and, at the same time, a little scary. Freddie got sucked into something that was beyond him, and when Winters left (unwillingly, might I add), his sense of time got hazy. I liked how the author connected music to the magic that Faland did and a mirror that showed your true heart’s desire. The haziness of Freddie’s recollections and the music make for an almost dreamlike state that Freddie lived in.
The end of The Warm Hands of Ghosts was bittersweet. I won’t get into it, but the damage that was done by the war was immense. That’s all I can say without giving away spoilers. I liked Laura’s spot of happiness on the last page.
Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Del Rey, NetGalley, and Katherine Arden for allowing me to read and review this ARC of The Warm Hands of Ghosts. All opinions stated in this review are mine.
If you enjoy reading books similar to The Warm Hands of Ghosts, then you will enjoy these books:
Other books by Katherine Arden
Suggested Playlist (feel free to add songs or remove songs)
A Holmes and Watson-style detective duo take the stage in this fantasy with a mystery twist, from the Edgar-winning, multiple Hugo-nominated Robert Jackson Bennett
In Daretana’s greatest mansion, a high imperial officer lies dead—killed, to all appearances, when a tree erupted from his body. Even here at the Empire’s borders, where contagions abound and the blood of the leviathans works strange magical changes, it’s a death both terrifying and impossible.
Assigned to investigate is Ana Dolabra, a detective whose reputation for brilliance is matched only by her eccentricities. Rumor has it that she wears a blindfold at all times, and that she can solve impossible cases without even stepping outside the walls of her home.
At her side is her new assistant, Dinios Kol, magically altered in ways that make him the perfect aide to Ana’s brilliance. Din is at turns scandalized, perplexed, and utterly infuriated by his new superior—but as the case unfolds and he watches Ana’s mind leap from one startling deduction to the next, he must admit that she is, indeed, the Empire’s greatest detective.
As the two close in on a mastermind and uncover a scheme that threatens the Empire itself, Din realizes he’s barely begun to assemble the puzzle that is Ana Dolabra—and wonders how long he’ll be able to keep his own secrets safe from her piercing intellect.
By an “endlessly inventive” (Vulture) author with a “wicked sense of humor” (NPR), The Tainted Cup mixes the charms of detective fiction with brilliant world-building to deliver a fiendishly clever mystery that’s at once instantly recognizable and thrillingly new.
First Line:
The walls of the estate emerged from the morning fog before me, long and dark and rounded like the skin of some beached sea creature.
The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett
Important things you need to know about the book:
Pace: Medium but does increase to fast during crucial scenes.
POV:1st person (told from Dinios Kol’s POV)
Series:The Tainted Cup is the first book in the Shadow of the Leviathan series.
Trigger Warnings: There are scenes of body horror, murder, death, gore, violence, injury and injury details, animal death, classism, chronic illness, medical content, death of a parent (off page), fire and fire injury, gaslighting, alcohol, pandemic/endemic, ableism, blood, war, bullying, genocide, physical abuse, grief, vomit, and drug use. If any of these triggers you, I suggest not reading the book.
Language: There is moderate swearing in The Tainted Cup. There is also language used that could be offensive to some people.
Setting:The Tainted Cup is set inand around the city of Talagray in the country of Tala.
Plot Synopsis (as spoiler-free as I can get):
When a high imperial officer is murdered by a tree erupting from his body, Investigator Ana Dolabra is called in to investigate. Instead, she sends her assistant, Dinios Kol (magically altered to take in and remember everything), to assess the crime scene. But, the murder of the imperial officer soon isn’t the only one. People of all classes are dying of trees erupting from their bodies. Called back to Talagray, Ana and Din are soon embroiled in an investigation that takes them from the front lines of a battle against sea leviathans to the gentry folk who run the city. With the death toll mounting, Ana and Din are in a race against the clock to find out who is killing these people and why. But the answers that they uncover will shock them.
Characters:
The main characters in The Tainted Cup are Ana Dolabra and Dinios Kol (Din). Several secondary characters regularly appear, but the author keeps Ana and Din as the book’s main focus. I found them interesting. I was fascinated with Din’s magical alteration—he can remember and recall anything he has heard, read, or seen (also called a Sublime). The deeper into the book I got, the author revealed more about both Din and Ana. I also loved the relationship that they had. It was one of mutual respect which shone the most at the end of the book.
The secondary characters were interesting, adding extra depth and insight to the storyline. I will warn everyone, though, that the author is not very attached to his secondary characters and does kill a bunch off. So keep that in mind when reading, and don’t get too attached to the secondary characters.
My review:
I was excited when I checked my email and saw I had gotten a widget for The Tainted Cup. I loved the author’s Foundryside series and wanted to know when he would publish a new book. In the past, I have been disappointed by books that I get my hopes up for, and because of that, I temper my excitement a little. But, once I got reading, I allowed my inner fantasy geek to scream with joy. Why? Because this book was excellent!!!
The storyline of The Tainted Cup was very intriguing. It starts with a gruesome murder and takes off after that. The author kept the murder (and soon, murders) in my focus. The storyline is very complex and has a ton of layers to it. Once one layer was peeled back, another was there. That multilayering of the storyline added to my enjoyment of it.
The mystery angle of The Tainted Cup was excellent. Not only did I not see who the killers (there were two) were, but I did not expect the book to go in the direction it did. That twist at the end threw me and turned everything upside down. And guess what, I loved it!!
The fantasy angle was terrific, too. I had questions about the sea monsters and why they were trying to get further inland. The author never explained it, but the explanation should appear in upcoming books. I am also sure it is something super simple (breeding grounds/intelligent creatures/who knows).
The end of The Tainted Cup was interesting. Again, the twist took me completely by surprise. The author did wrap up the murder storyline in a way that left me satisfied. But he left so much more open, and I look forward to seeing how he expands upon them in upcoming books.
Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Del Rey, NetGalley, and Robert Jackson Bennett for allowing me to read and review this ARC of The Tainted Cup. All opinions stated in this review are mine.
If you enjoy reading books similar to The Tainted Cup, then you will enjoy these books:
When mysterious faeries from other realms appear at her university, curmudgeonly professor Emily Wilde must uncover their secrets before it’s too late in this heartwarming, enchanting second installment of the Emily Wilde series.
Emily Wilde is a genius scholar of faerie folklore—she just wrote the world’s first comprehensive of encylopaedia of faeries. She’s learned many of the secrets of the Hidden Folk on her adventures . . . and also from her fellow scholar and former rival, Wendell Bambleby.
Because Bambleby is more than infuriatingly charming. He’s an exiled faerie king on the run from his murderous mother, and in search of a door back to his realm. So despite Emily’s feelings for Bambleby, she’s not ready to accept his proposal of marriage. Loving one of the Fair Folk comes with secrets and danger.
And she also has a new project to focus a map of the realms of faerie. While she is preparing her research, Bambleby lands her in trouble yet again, when assassins sent by Bambleby’s mother invade Cambridge. Now Bambleby and Emily are on another adventure, this time to the picturesque Austrian Alps, where Emily believes they may find the door to Bambley’s realm, and the key to freeing him from his family’s dark plans.
But with new relationships for the prickly Emily to navigate and dangerous Folk lurking in every forest and hollow, Emily must unravel the mysterious workings of faerie doors, and of her own heart.
First Line:
The foot would not fit in my briefcase, so I wrapped it in cloth and wrestled it into an old knapsack I sometimes carry with me on expeditions.
Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett
Important things you need to know about the book:
Pace: Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands has a medium to fast pace.
POV:Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands is told from two POVs. It is told from Emily’s (and, in one chapter, Wendell’s) 1st person POV. But, it is also told from a 2nd person POV (the entire book is journal entries.)
Series:Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands is the 2nd book in the Emily Wilde series. It would help to read EmilyWilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries before reading this book.
Trigger/Content Warning:Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands has trigger and content warnings. If any of these triggers you, I suggest not reading the book. They are:
Violence
Injury/Injury Detail
Animal Death
Murder
Animal Cruelty
Gore
Blood
Body Horror
Chronic Illness
Poisoning
Sexual Content: There is very mild sexual content (mainly kissing, but there are hints of more) in Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands.
Language: There is mild swearing in Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands. There is also language used, while correct for the period, that could be considered offensive to some people.
Setting:Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands is set in various places. It starts in Cambridge, England, then shifts to a mountain village in Austria. Several journal entries also detail Emily’s time in The Borderlands and Wendell’s kingdom: Court of Silva Lupi in the Faerie Realms.
Age Range: I recommend Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands to anyone over 16.
Plot Synopsis (as spoiler-free as I can get):
Emily Wilde is off on another adventure. But this adventure has a sense of urgency. Wendell Bambleby, her former rival and exiled Fae king, is being targeted by Fae assains sent by his stepmother. One of the assassins succeeds in poisoning Wendell at a birthday party, and he is slowly dying. He needs to get back to his realm to heal and is having problems finding a door to the realm.
Meanwhile, Emily is trying her hardest to keep the head of her and Wendell’s department, Dr. Farris Rose, from expelling her and Wendell from the college. Everything comes to a head when assassins attack Wendell while lecturing, forcing him to use magic to defend himself. By doing that, he exposes himself as Fae, and Rose is livid. He wants Wendell and Emily gone but will forget everything if Emily takes him on her expedition to the Austrian mountains.
Emily, who doesn’t back down from anything, reluctantly agrees. She plans to complete her map and look for Wendell’s door; two extra people will hold her back. But Emily didn’t expect the village to be surrounded by the Fae or to start seeing apparitions of a discredited scholar and her friend while in the mountains. It will take all of Emily’s knowledge and resources to cure Wendell, find his door, figure out the mystery of what happened to the scholars, and complete her map. Can she do it?
Characters:
The primary and secondary characters were well-written and well-fleshed out. The author was able to keep surprising me by introducing different nuances into characters already introduced (mainly Wendell and his love for Emily).
Emily, who is the main character, is deliciously grumpy and cantankerous throughout the book. I did expect her several times during the book to whip out her umbrella and smack Rose with it (he deserved it). I also didn’t expect her to go to the lengths she did for Wendell.
My review:
It isn’t often that the sophomore book in a series blows me away. So, I was shocked when I ended up loving Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands. I could not read this book fast enough and had it finished within a day. I loved everything about it. I couldn’t get enough of Emily and Wendell’s relationship with the Fae, Emily’s relationship with people other than Wendell, and her absolute determination to save him.
The main storyline of Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands centers on Emily, Wendell, his sickness, her map, and the search for his door. I found the storyline to be well-written. As stated above, it captured my attention. The storyline had twists, turns, and a few surprises along the way.
My only quibble with this book is that I wished the author had stayed more in Wendell’s court: The Court of Silva Lupi. But, because of the duration of the visit (only a couple of journal entries), she was able to pique my interest. With what happened, I hope there is more of this court in future books.
The fantasy angle of the book was terrific. I liked how the author took fairytales and mythical creatures and put her spin on them (the satyrs will forever be etched into my memory…and not in a good way). Returning to the Faerie Realm, I was fascinated by every person/creature in that realm. There was so much lore and information that it was almost hard to process.
The romance angle was also interesting. I did think that Wendell’s affection was one-sided until halfway through the book. Then it started to spice up. But, when Emily talked to Wendell’s stepmother, his stepmother said something, making me wonder exactly why Wendell was with Emily. I hope it is addressed in the next book because it was disconcerting to read.
The book’s angle with the two missing scholars was interesting up to a point. After they came out of Faerie, I started to lose interest. And besides, I thought that the woman was a complete jerk to Emily (who had a bad case of hero worship up to that point).
I am also interested in seeing how Ariadne will figure into upcoming books. She was an absolute sweetheart in this book, and she was also fearless.
The end of Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands was interesting. I liked how the author wrapped up the main storyline. But there was so much kept open. I am eagerly looking forward to book 3!
Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Del Rey, NetGalley, and Heather Fawcett for allowing me to read and review this ARC of Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands. All opinions stated in this review are mine.
If you enjoy reading books similar to Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands, then you will enjoy these books:
Ah-hah! Nothing like the pungent smell of an ancient cave and the thrill of the hunt for a pair of mangey Garms to really make you feel alive, huh? In this canon novella of The Talisman Series, “Slumber of Silence”, Rome and Julian find themselves out on a mission for The Alliance, tracking a couple of Garms through a cave system that seems as old as the mountain range that shadows it. At first, it’s just another heroic operation to protect our world from the invasive Darkbrands, but the boys from Georgia quickly determine that these dank and cavernous passageways are so old and mysterious that they may have never even seen a human or dragon before. Or have they? What long-forgotten riddles hide within the pressing darkness of the cave? What silent and slumbering secrets have been kept for eons undiscovered? And without any backup from The Alliance, will Rome and Julian even survive to tell them?
First Line:
“Dude,” whispered Julian perches on a rock a few feet behind Rome.
Slumber of Silence by Brett Salter
Important things you need to know about the book:
Pace: The pace of Slumber of Silence is fast-paced.
POV:Slumber of Silence is told from Rome and Julian’s 3rd person POV. There are later chapters that are told from Mr. Jones 3rd person POV.
Series:Slumber of Silence is a novella between The Battle for Verdana and Desperate Tides, Desperate Measures. Readers cannot read this book as a standalone.
Trigger/Content Warning:Slumber of Silence has trigger and content warnings. If any of these triggers you, I suggest not reading the book. They are:
Violence
Sexual Content: There is no sexual content in Slumber of Silence.
Language: There is no swearing in Slumber of Silence.
Setting:Slumber of Silence is set in a cave bordering a desert in an unknown country.
Age Range: I recommend Slumber of Silence to anyone over 13.
Plot Synopsis (as spoiler-free as I can get):
After the ending events of The Battle for Verdana, Rome and Julian are set on a mission to defeat Darkbrands and seal Portals. Their current mission sends them into a cave, where they encounter and battle several Darkbrands. But, there is a secret deep in that cave, one that both Rome and Julian are surprised to discover. What is that secret? And will Julian and Rome keep what they found a secret, or will they let their allies know?
Main Characters
*Julian (aka Jules): Jules was still the same focused but goofy kid as in the previous books. I liked seeing him on a one-on-one mission with Rome. His talents and personality could shine since he wasn’t showing off in front of his sister/cousin.
*Rome:Rome stayed the same from the previous books. He was still the strong, silent type who protected Julian from himself (in most cases). I liked that he discovered what was in the cave and his connection to it.
My review:
Slumber of Silence was a good read. I recommend reading the first four books before reading this one. Now that is out of the way, I loved seeing Rome and Julian doing Darkbrand battles solo. It showed how much they matured since book 1.
The main storyline centers around Rome, Julian, their search for the Portal and the Darkbrands, and later in the book, the secret they found. The storyline was well written and did fill in some gaps for me (what they were doing between Verdana and Measures).
The battle scenes were well-written. I liked that the author had Rome and Julian work for their battles. He didn’t just hand them their victories (and he does this throughout the book).
I was stunned when the author revealed the secret in the cave. I liked Rome’s connection to the secret and what Rome saw when he touched it. I also agreed with Julian and Rome’s decision to keep what they found a secret.
I enjoyed the end of Slumber of Silence. I liked seeing Rome and Julian’s (and Mr. Jones’s) thoughts on their battles. And, as I said above, I liked Rome and Julian’s decision to keep what they found a secret.
Many thanks to Brett Salter for allowing me to read and review Slumber of Silence. All opinions stated in this review are mine.
If you enjoy reading books similar to Slumber of Silence, then you will enjoy these books:
Escape Into Reading 